A new fluorescence probe using carbon dots (CDs) coated with silica molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was developed for the selective detection of cetirizine (CTZ).
The carbon dots were eco-friendly and derived from orange peels, while the silica layer was created using a reverse microemulsion technique.
The method achieved a linear fluorescence response for CTZ detection between 0.5-500 ng/mL with a low detection limit of 0.41 ng/mL and demonstrated successful application in analyzing CTZ in human saliva and urine samples with high recovery rates.